Porterbrook sends first pair of HST power cars for scrap
Nos. 43061 and 43075 go to Sims Newport as Porterbrook begins disposals of stored exEast Midlands Trains VP185-engined Class 43s.
THERE has been no greater illustration of the importance of the HST to Britain’s railway network than the impressive survivability of the production power car fleet. Of the 197 examples that were outshopped from BREL Crewe between February 1976 and August 1982, just four had been scrapped prior to Autumn 2021: No. 43173 in June 2003 following the Southall crash the previous September, No. 43011 in June 2002 after being written off at Ladbroke Grove in November 1999, No. 43019 in July 2005 as a result of the Ufton Nervet collision in November 2004, and No. 43140 in May 2021 following the Stonehaven derailment in August 2020. By way of comparison, 135 Class 56s were built during the same period, of which just 37 remain, albeit with three now converted to Class 69s.
While there are a number of MTU-repowered Class 43s stored and extensively stripped for parts, it is the ex-East Midlands Trains Paxman VP185engined versions that will be the first production units to be scrapped for reasons other than accidents.
Of the 24 remaining VP185-fitted power cars, five are currently preserved – Nos. 43044, 43048, 43081, 43082 and 43089 – and six are active: Nos. 43046 & 43055 (LSL Blue Pullman), 43058 & 43059 (LSL Rail Charter Services) and 43050 & 43076 (DATS). Of the stored ‘43s’, Locomotive Services’ Nos. 43047, 43049 and 43083 and DATS Nos. 43052, 43054 and 43066 would appear to have a future, at least in the medium term. The same could not be said for former spares donors Nos. 43061 and 43075. Porterbrook’s other VP185 power cars are Nos. 43045 and 43060, both handed back by Colas Rail after test train trials at the end of 2020, as well as Nos. 43043, 43064 and 43073. All are stored and with no further interest from potential lessors it is likely that more of these will go for scrap.